Heating device



M. A. POWERS HEATING DEVICE Jan. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1944' MLTON A. Pom 5&5

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 HEATING DEVICE Milton A. Powers, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Timken-Detroit Axle Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Ohio Application July 12, 1944, Serial No. 544,567

'14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in water heating devices and particularly to small fuel oil burning units such as are suitable for supplying domestic hot water or for space heating particularly for small houses, apartments and flats.

Prior to this invention it was common practice to equip oil burner installations with boilers having a side fire door like those used in coal burner installations.

Thes early side fire door boilers were not of good efliciency and were not well adapted for use with wall flame burners. The wall flame burner distributes an even zone of uniformly burning combustion products about the interior of the combustion chamber, and the usual side fire door opening was located only a few inches above the burner so that there was an intense heat release directly adjacent the door. This construction resulted in high heat loss, about twenty two per cent, at the fire door, and I have found that even when the door is insulated at considerable expense the heat loss is still unavoidably high.

In its preferred embodiment the invention comprises a unit type boiler having a peripherally continuous heat transfer wall defining a combustion chamber having no side fire door and wherein the evenly distributed hot combustion products from .a wall flame burner are enabled to uniformly scour a maximum of heat transfer surface of the boiler, for securing optimum heat transer to the boiler water. My novel boiler is open for inspection, repair and cleaning at the top where the passing combustion products are coolest within the boiler and to my knowledge is the first open-top boiler of this advantageous construction, an insulated removable cover being provided during operation.

With the above in mind, it is a major object of the invention to provide a novel boiler and wall flame burner assembly wherein the wall flame burner evenly distributes the flame and hot co llbustion products in intimate uniform relation with a peripherally continuous heat transfer wall of the boiler,

A further object of the invention is to rovide a novel open-top boiler especially adapted for oooperation with a wall flame burner wherein a maximum of heat transfer area isprovided-in the boiler side walls and wherein the boiler is provided with a removable insulating cover functioning as a wall of the combustion chamber adjacent the flue.

It is a further object of the invention to pros vide: a novel; liquid heating furnace. construction wherein a relatively heavy boiler unit and the burner mechanism and controls are supported on the floor directly by rigid structural standards, and the outer furnace casing does not carry any substantial weight, preferably being also supported on the standards.

Other objects and advantages will be more par ticularly pointed out hereinafter or will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout, a suitable embodiment of the invention is illustrated for purposes of disclosure. The drawings are for the purpos of illustration only, and are not to be taken in a limiting or restrictive sense since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the illustrative arrangement may be resorted to without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View on line l -t of Figure 2 illustrating a water heating unit constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention using an external heat transfer member surrounding the combustion chamber; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view, partly in section at various horizontal levels of the unit illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, numeral Ii] generally indicates a heater enclosing cabinet casing having a removable top I2 and a base or footing generally indicated, at I4. As is particularly illustrated in Figure 2, casing I8 is generally rectangular in cross-section with rounded corners except that the front wall projects forwardly to a center line giving it a somewhat prow shaped appearance.

Within cabinet casing 10 is a heat transfer or boiler unit It which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is preferably an integral iron casting. In the claims, reference to the boiler shell or member will be understood to embrace both integral cast boilers such as illustrated or boilers made of cast parts joined together into an equivalent construction.

Casting It comprises an outer, generally cylindrical, wall is of a thickness sufficient to insure the necessary strength to withstand the maximum hydrostatic pressure to which the boiler is to be subjected, and a substantially concentric inner wall 25- having a lower generally cylindrical portion 2! and an upper, partly cylindrical portion 22. {Between upper and lower wall portions 2i and '22,'wal l 2 0 is formed'with an integral inward annular projection 24. Space it between walls is and is adapted. to contain water to be heated. Space 23 interiorlv of wall is the combust on chamber as will appear. Lower wa l portion 2| comprises a primary heat transfer surface region and upper wall portion 22 com prises a secondary heat transfer surface region.

Peripheral 25 of proiection 24 defines a restricted central circular combustion gas escape opening or throat having a diameter approxi mately one-half the internal d ameter of wall 2i of the primary heat transf r chamber below the extension, The internal diameter of wall 22 is preferably the same as that of wa l portion 2!. The invention however is not limited to these particular pro ortions and the extent and location of projection 25 may be pro ortioned as de sired to obtain maximum efficiency in various installations.

A plurality of narrow integral radial webs or ribs 2 1 of generally triangular Shane project from Wall 2!] within combustion chamber 23 and extend across the angle between the under side of pro ection 24 and lower wall portion 2% of the combustion chamber. Webs 2% are preferaby equally s aced around the circ mference of combustion chamber 23 and materially assist transfer of heat from the interior of the combustion chamber through inner wall portion 2! to water space l9.

Wall portion 22 of h at transfer unit it above projection 24 is provided with a lateral flue onening 28. There is a recess in upper end wall 3'! of unit l6 above o en ng 28 into which is fitted an extension 29 extendin in ardl from a tubular flue collar 3! having its outer end proje ting through cas ng ill for connection with a suitable flue pine leading to a chimney or stack. Flue co lar 3% is preferably foreed as a se arate casting having integral externa side flanges 3! and 32 and a bottom flange 33 and sha ed and cemented to make substantially gastight connection with heat r unit I about o en ng 2'). Collar is secured to wall l8 bv suitable means s ch as bolts 34 and 35 as ill strated in F g re 2. he upper flat surface of exten ion 9 is fl sh with the upper flat surface of end wall 3' of heat transfer unit it to rov de a substantially continuous annular seat for top cover l2.,

The upper surface of pro ection 25 is provided with an umvardly extending inte ral arcuate flange 35 which surrounds opening 25 except for a sector o ening indicated at 38, and particuarly illustrated in Figure 2, on the side of unit diametrically opnosite flue opening 28. An upstanding partly cylindrical baffle member (is is secured to the inner surface of f ange 3": as by bolts l2 and has a circumferential extent substantially equal to that of flange 3G. The fiat upper edge of baffle 45 is flush with the upper surfaces of wall 37 and flange 29, and the interru ted sector openings provided by flange 38 and baffle 48 comprise a passage 33 through which hot combustion gases arising through throat 25 esc into the secondary heat transfer space 23'.

Inner wall 23 spaced from outer wall 18 by a substantial y constant amount sufiicient to permit the free flow of water through space is under the influence of convection, and inner and outer walls 22 and iii are joined at their upper ends by integral annular wall 37 and at their lower ends by integral annular wall 45.

Around the lower portion of unit is adjacent bottom wall id is an integral external having six outwardly projecting lugs 48 provided,

4 with interna ly screw threaded apertures, for a purpose which will appear.

Heat transfer or boiler unit it is supported upon a plurality of legs or standards, two of which are illustrated in Figure l and indicated at and 52. There are preferably three such standards, substantially equally spaced around the circumference of unit l6, and each standard comprises, as particularly shown in the sectional view of the standard 59, an inwardly projecting bottom flange 54 apertured and internally screw threaded to receive an adjustable leg or levelling screw locked in adjusted position by a suitable lock nut 53. Above flange 54, each standard has a straight vertical portion 59 extending for the height of footing member I l and terminated by an outward bend or off-set 63 above which arises another straight vertical portion 62 which is bent inwardly to provide a flange 63 seated against the bottom of casting flange lug 4B and apertured to freely receive a threaded stud 64. Each stud 54 is threaded at its upper end into a lug 48, and nuts 66 on the studs clamp the lugs securely to the standards, which bear the entire weight of casting E6. The standards also bear the entire weight of casing ll] which is welded or otherwise suitably fixed to portions 62 of the standards. Base H4 is also preferably welded to the standards.

The lower end of each stud 64 projects through an aperture in the outer. periphery of a sheet metal circular burner hearth plate 83, and a nut i5 is provided on each stud below hearth plate $28 so that hearth plate 53 is mounted upon boiler unit E6. The plate 68 is in the illustrated embodiment additionally supported by extra studs l2 threaded in the other three lugs a8 and. provided on their lower ends with corresponding bearing nuts '14.

At its center, hearth plate 68 carries a burner motor unit '65 which drives a fuel and air projecting head ill comprising oil flinger tubes 58' and fan blades i2" similar to United States Letters Patent No. 2,310,333 which extends through an opening [9 in plate 68 so as to be positioned within the lower part of combustion chamber 23. Motor unit 76 is secured to plate 68 by a plurality of s spension bolts ll. The lower part of head 18 is surrounded by a burner collar 8% extending upwardly from hearth plate 88, and extending radially outwardly from the upper end of burner collar Ell is an annular sheet metal hearth 82 which carries a double wall flame ring 8 3 and. at its periphery, an annular flame shield or bafiie 86.

Fuel oil, projected frorn head 78, strikes the:

outer wall of double wal flame ring 8 4 in sub-- stantially unatomized condition and is there ignited, preferably by suitable electric ignition means. The oil burns on the inner side of the outer flame ring wall as in a current of air which is directed radially outwardly by the usual fan blades on head i8 to strike the inner wall of the double wall flame ring and be deflected upwardly" stricted by throat 25 which causes a retardation ot the flow and a resultant turbulence, of; the combustion gases below the throat and insures the intimate scouring contact of combustion products. with the primary chamber walls and webs 26 and transfer of a large portion of the heat of the combustion products through wall 2| of the lower or primary heating chamber of heat transfer unit IE to the water in space I9.

The gases then pass through throat 25 into bafile 40 from which they emerge through passage 38 in baffle 46 and flange 36, to flow in, opposite directions around the annular secondary heat exchange chamber in intimate scouring contactwith, inner wall 22 of heat transfer unit It The gases in a relatively cool condition then p u hr h flue collar 30 to asuitable chimney or stack. p

In the embodiment shown, a sheet 88 of suitable insulating material such as an asbestos composition is disposed between hearth plate 68 and the lower surface of bottom wal 46 extending inwardly to burner collar 80. Insulating sheet or gasket 38 prevents the transfer of heat from the combustion chamber above it to the space below hearthv plate 65 where undue heat might tend to damage burner motor i6. Gasket 88 also provides a gas-tight seal between support plate 68 and the lower end of the heat transfer unit It to prevent the escape of gases from the com bustion chamber, since nuts I0- and "i4 when tightened clamp gasket 88 between, plate 68 and casting wall 46. A pipe 89 conducts overflow oil from, hearth 82 downward to inclined hearth plate 68.

Heat transfer unit It is surrounded by a lagging or layer of insulating material 38 to prevent radiation of heat from unit IE to. the surrounding room.

The shape of cabinet casing I0 provides considerable air space Q2 between the. front wall of the casing and the adjacent potrion of. insulated heat transfer unit [6.

Within casing IS below space 92 is mounted, a suitable fuel oil control valve, such as the electromagnetic valve generally indicated at as. Valve 94' is carried by a bracket. 95 suspended from boiler unit it as illustrated in Figure l.v Valve 94 is connected to burner unit I3 by an oi con.- duit. 96 and is suitably operatively provided with an automatic control device (not shown) so that fuel oil is supplied to the burner only when the burner is operating in response to a demand of the automatic control device. Valve. 94 may also act to meter the fuel su plied to the burner to maintain a constant predetermined rate of fuel consumption.

Within the casing space, beneath hearth plate 68, are mounted a switch or relay box 58 and a transformer Ififl which supplies high electrical potential for igniting the fuel in the combustion chamber. The supply leads to box 38 are not illustrated and leads from box 98 go out to transformer IE0 and through conduit 99 to the burner motor. Transformer IE0 is mounted on a support bracket I ill which is welded or suitably secured to portion 62 of an adjacent standard 52. Box 98 is supported. by transformer I195.

Ifhe lower front portion of cabinet casing ii) is provided with an opening through which con-- trol valve 94 and the other mechanism below plate 68 may be inspected and serviced, and this opening is covered by a removable door. t2 held in operative position by suitable means such as screw Hi l.v

Footing or base member I4v is smaller in cross sectional, area than the bottom of easing III- by an amount determined by the extent of off-set 69; ofthe boiler supporting standards. This con struction provides an annularopening Lilli aroundv the bottom of casing Ill through which air for combustion flows to the space below hearth plate 68 and through air intake openings I88 in the housing of burner motor unit 16 to distributor head 18. p

The upper open end of the casing Is is closed by removable top cover I2 within which is secured a thick block III) of insulating material covered on its bottom side by a circular metal plate I I2. Plate H2 rests upon the flat annular upper end wall surface 31 of heat transfer unit I6 and,

flange 2-9 and thus closes the upper end of the unit and provides a closure wall for the upper end of the secondary heat transfer chamber. Piate I I2v also contacts the flat upper end of baffle. 451 tov form a top closure, for the baffle member and. rests on the upper flat side of, flue collar flange 2.9v as above described. Plate H2 cooperates with bafile 4B in. symmetrically dividing flow of the combustion products through the secondary heat exchange chamber and cooperates with baille and wall 22 in guiding the combustion products 'to the flue. Insulation block H9 and plate H2 are secured to the concave sheet metal shell H3 of top I2, and are removable therewith so that the upper end of combustion chamber 23 is open.

when the top 52 is removed.

At or near its center, insulation body II!) is provided with an inspection aperture II4 which surrounds a smaller inspection aperture H6 in the late H2.

Shell H3 is provided with a movable door I I8 overlying aperture I I4. When door H8 is raised on a hinge I28, an inspection opening is provided entirely through top I2 through, which the flame of the burner in the combustion chamber may be inspected.

In Figure 2, quadrant A represents a top plan view of the heat transfer unit and casing with cover I2 removed. Quadrant B is a somewhat diagrammatic view with projection 24 cut away to show the burner hearth and the electric igniter I22 which is set in the hearth, plate adjacent flame ring 84. Quadrant C is a diagrammatic lower section view similar to quadrant B but slightly above and shows in addition shield and a grille member I24 mounted upon flame ring 84 to improve the combustion of the fuel and increase turbulence of the combustion gases. asthey pass through the combustion chamber. Quadrant D is a section at substantially the. same level as quadrant B but shows shield member 86 and a drain opening I26 for removing from the hearth any liquid fuel which may drip from distributor head I8 or flame ring 5 onto. the hearth, opening l26 being connected by tube 28 with a trip bucket I 30 which operates valve 94 to dis continue burner operation if excess fuel oil flows.

into the trip bucket. As illustrated in Figure 1., the bottom wall of hearth plate 58 is inclined so that oil thereon flows toward opening I25.

As is also illustrated in Figure 2, heat; transfer unit [-6. is provided with twov pairs of pipe connesting bosses, as indicated at I32, I34, and 136., I38. Bosses I32 and I36 are located near thev bottom of unit I6 and bosses I34 and I38 are located near the top of unit IS. A suitable pipe connection extends from one lower boss and one upper boss to a hot water storage tank. The other two; bosses. may be blanked off, or may be used for other pipe connections as desired.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a liquid heater, a heat transfer unit for use with a wall flame type fuel burner comprising an annular shell having two substantially concentric spaced walls connec ed at their corresponding ends and enclosing a space adapted to contain liquid to beheated, said. shell having an open top and an open bottom. a defining restriction within said shell dividing the interior of said unit into a lower prir. iry heating chamber and an upper secondary heating chamber, and a fiow directing ba'llc within s heating chamber provic ation of said pa sage di charging 1 said secondary heat exchange chamber.

2. In a water heater, an annu- .r hollow shell open at top and bottom having a lateral fiue opening and an upper end wall externally formed as a continuous cover seat interrupted by a flue opening recess, a tub? e collar secured to said shell about said 0,..en; and means on said fiue collar fitting into said recess providing a substantially flush continuation of said cover seat across said recess. whereby a substantially continuous cover seat is pro-vi ed on the upp r end of said shell.

3. In a liquid heater, a boiler unit enclosing a combustion chamber, casing surrounding said boiler unit constructed and arranged to provide therewithin a first space below said boiler unit and a second colnmunicatin': space substantially continuous therewith forwardlv of the boiler unit. means providing a removab e front cover on said. casing affordin access to said spaces, and means mounting a fuel burner unit and con-.

ler unit, a casing surrounding said unit and heat insulated there-.

from, rigid standards extending downwardly from said boiler unit for supporting the latter directly on and. spaced from a floor or the like. a fuel burner moun within said casing at the bottom of boiler unit, 5 hating short oi said f oor. an; Hi, prowdng a base covering about the lower ends of said. standards, said covering being from said casing to provide therebctween peripheral passaee means permitting entrance of combustion air to said burner.

5. In a liquid heat r, an open-top boiler unit having a fiuid contacting inner Wall surrounding a combustion chamber. means in said boiler unit separating said combustion chamber into a lower primary heat exchange chamber and an upper secondary heat exchange chamber and defining a restricted throat through which hot combustion gases may v from primary chambe" to said secondary chamber. means providing a fiue opening in said secondary chamber, and a laterally apertured mounted on throat defining means and disposed in said secondary 8 chamber, said bafiie providing a substantial continuation of said throat for delivering said hot combustion gases to said secondary chamber out chamber and having inner and outer walls separated by a space adapted to contain liquid to be heated, said space being substantially closed except for inlet and outlet connections, means providing a substantially radial inward extension of said inner wall providing a restricted throat region separating said combustion chamber into lower primary and upper secondary heat exchange chambers, and a plurality of generally vertical heat absorption line on said inner wall v below said extension.

8. A li d heater comprising a boiler unit surrounding an internal combustion chamber ary heat exchange chambers interconnected by a flow restricting passage, said primary chamber being adapted to contain a fuel combustion assembly and said secondary chamber having a flue outlet, turbulence creating means in said primary chamber insuring intimate contact of the hot combustion products with the walls of said primary chamber, and fiow deli cting means in said secondary chamber forming a passage which insures intimate passage of said. com-- bustion products along the Walls of said sec- ,separatcd into lower primary and upper secondondary chamber before escaping into said flue outlet, said flow deflecting means comprising a baiile constituting a portion of said latter passage and directing emergent combustion products toward the walls of said secondary combustion chamber substantially opposite fiue outlet and defining a substantially annular passage for said emergent combustion products within said secondary chamber.

9. In a liquid heater, a heat transfer unit for use with a Wall flame type fuel burn... com rising an annular shell having two substantially concentric spaced walls connected at their corresponding ends and enclosing a adapted to contain liquid to be heated, shell having anf open top and an open bottom, a defining restriction within said shell dividing the interior of. said unit into a lower primary heating chamher and an upper secondary heating chamber, a flue outlet passage in the well of said secondary heating chamber, and a flow directing bafile Within said secondary heating chamber positioned in partially surrounding relation to said passage so as to provide a substantial continuation of said passage and having a side opening out of registry with said flue outlet passage discharging laterally into said secondary heat exchange chamber out of re istry with said fiue outlet passage.

10. In a liquid heater, an o en top boiler unit having a fluid contacting oer wall surrounding a combustion chamber, means in said. boiler unit separating said combustion chamber into a lower primary heat exchange chamber and an upper secondary heat exchange chamber and defining a restricted throat through which hot combustion gases may flow from said primary chamber to said secondary chamber, means providing a lateral fiue opening in said secondary tioned in said secondary chamber in effective continuation of said throat defining means, said bafiie being partially surrounding relation to said throat and having its lateral aperture out or" registry with said flue opening for directing said hot combustion gases that arise through said throat into said. secondary chamber out of registry with said flue opening.

11. In the liquid heater defined claim is, a cover assembly on said boiler unit, and said baffle comprising a tubular member extending substantially between said throat defining means and said cover assembly and having an open side laterally opposite said ilue opening.

12. In a liquid heater, a boiler member for containing liquid to be heated and having an inner wall substantially continuously peripherally and symmetrically surrounding a combustion chamber and having an open top, peripheral means on said inner wall providing a substantially central internal restricted passage intermediate the top and bottom of said boiler member separating said combustion chamber into lower primary and upper secondary combustion chamber portions, an outer wall on said boiler member substantially coextensive with said inner wall and spaced therefrom so that said walls may maintain an annular column of liquid to be heated therebetween, a removable cover assembly extending over said boiler top in gas tight seal ing engagement therewith and serving as a top wall for said secondary combustion chamber portion, a bafile member Within secondary combustion chamber comprising a substantial continuation of said passage, said baille member having a side opening through which products of combustion are directed into said secondary combustion chamber portion, a wall flame fluid fuel burner disposed within said primary combustion chamber portion for supplying hot combustion products evenly around the periphery of said combustion chamber inner wall to evenly release heat to be evenly absorbed by said column of liquid between said walls, said burner and the inner wall of said combustion chamber being accessible through said open top and said passage for cleaning and repair upon. removal of said cover assembly, and means providing a lateral flue passage through said boiler member walls at the upper end of said secondary combustion chamber portion out of registry with said baffle side opening.

13. In a liquid heater, a boiler unit surrounding an internal combustion chamber, means separating said chamber into lower primary and upper secondary heat exchange chambers interconnected by a fiow restricting throat, said primary chamber being adapted to contain a fuel burner assembly and providing a continuous peripheral heat exchange wall in the path of the hot products of combustion from said burner assembly, a flue outlet in said secondary chamber, and tubular flow directing means in said secondary chamber in the path of said products of combustion admitted by said throat positioned in effective continuation of said throat, a lateral opening in said tubular means disposed oppositely to said flue outlet for substantially symmetrically dividing said products of combustion and providing for intimate passage of said products of combustion along the walls of said secondary chamber before escaping into said flue outlet.

14. In a liquid heater, an annular boiler shell surrounding a lower primary heat exchange chamber, an upper secondary heat exchange chamber and a restricted passage therebetween for conducting hot products of combustion from said primary to said secondary chambers, a lateral flue outlet in said secondary chamber, a top cover assembly on said shell closing the top of said secondary chamber, and a tubular bafiie x ending between said cover assembly and said hellwithin said secondary chamber, said baiiie *ig laterally apertured out of registry with said lue outlet for laterally discharging said products of combustion into said secondary chamber out of registry with said flue outlet.

MILTON A. POWERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 490,390 Mosely et al Jan. 31, 1893 596,486 Don Jan. 4, 1898 166,889 McCartney Aug. 9, 1994 1,029,309 Jones June 11, 1912 1,046,178 Grant Dec. 3, 1912 1,602,869 Vaughn Oct. 12, 1926 1,609,661 Quinn et al. Dec. '7, 1926 1,999,279 Thomas et al Nov. 29, 1932 1,954,893 Doble Apr. 17, 193i 1,954,306 Wenger June 26, 1934 1,991,557 Johnson l Feb. 19, 1935 2,064,989 Powers Dec. 15, 1936 2,130,471 Powers Sept. 20, 1938 2,306,891 Powers et al. Oct. 24, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 512,994 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1939 

